# 25
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“I'm going to DC next week.”
In the midst of silence, the Duke calmly announced.
Duke Elad was not only Minister of Military Affairs, but also had great influence on central policy.
Therefore, since he usually resided in the capital and came down to the area every few months, his return was expected.
However, everyone had a puzzled look on their faces when they heard the next words.
“Before that, let’s gather all the followers and their families and have a light banquet.”
It was a puzzling decision for the elders, who knew better than anyone how much the Duke hated noise.
However, they soon realized that their master, Duke Elad, had made this proposal out of consideration for the elders and followers who would be shaken by this incident.
The elders' meeting ended in shock.
* * *
“It's unfortunate that Allen isn't here, but let's walk together for the first time in a while.”
The Duke, who had finally gotten rid of Count Valery and had some free time for the first time in a while, spoke over lunch.
Of course, the Duchess nodded happily, and I, who had been serving Diana, suddenly joined the family march.
“Wow, it looks like spring is really coming now.”
When I entered the backyard, the green grass caught my eye.
The land where my mana was stored was stained with a clear green color, as if it was radiating life energy.
The Duchess looked at me, who was impressed.
“I came here on purpose.”
When I looked into her eyes, I felt that the Duchess was trying to create good memories for me so that the incident with Mr. Valery would not be a painful or bad memory.
While staying at Elad Castle, I felt it every moment, but the Duchess was a very friendly person.
‘The one who makes you feel at ease and comfortable just by being like sunlight.’
I fell helplessly in love with her, just as I had with Diana.
'This is really dangerous.'
I didn't want to be attached to someone anymore.
That was when I lowered my head and imagined myf being a fool and repeating the life I lived before returning.
“Huh?”
“What's going on, Leah?”
“Ma’am! This herb is a medicinal herb!”
Last time, I was skeptical because I only saw slightly raised buds, but seeing the leaves that had grown a little more made me confident.
“It looks like a herb, but it's actually a detoxifying herb!”
"truly ?"
The Duchess tilted her head.
Only then did I, who had been excitedly pointing at the grass and shouting, hastily add an explanation.
“When I was staying in the orphanage, I was hungry, so I would often eat things like grass from the nearby forest. Through that, I was able to find out what kind of food might hurt my stomach and what kind of food was right to eat. I remember that if I ate this kind of grass when I was sick, I would feel completely healed!”
In particular, I have a keen eye for interest, so children often ask me questions.
However, after entering Terencium I knew the true value of this herb.
While cultivating an herb garden with Old Man Ted, a guild executive and doctor, he learns that this herb is “Splicia,” a rare detoxifying herb that only grows when it receives warm energy in a frozen ground in the middle of winter.
I remember it being difficult to find, but even more difficult to raise, requiring precise control of mana.
'. …Now that I think about it, I need to learn more about mana and magic.'
Suddenly, I remembered the time I visited the Wizards' Tower not long ago, and my face hardened.
There were more than one questions that came to my mind after hearing the words of Thelin, the Duke's chief mage.
As far as I know, there is only one person on this continent called a wizard: Grand Duke Pylos, owner of the Principality of Pylos.
‘So, who is the master who uses magic freely without any spells or magic circles and even teaches me? …?’
If Thelin wasn't lying, I was also a once-in-a-thousand-years genius, but no matter how much I thought about it, it was a strange story that made my hair stand up.
Then questions started to occupy my mind.
When I think about it, I have known the teacher for eight years, but I don't even know his real name.
My world consisted of orphanages, the streets where I lived as a ar, and Terenceum.
However, since Terenceum is the place where all the information in the world is gathered, I have lived my life believing that there is nothing I do not know.
'Maybe it's a complete illusion.'
Anyway, I wanted to ask Tilin in detail about the teacher's teaching method, but I kept my mouth shut because I felt like I would get in trouble if I said the wrong thing.
Because I had no idea about the situation, I couldn't reveal my abilities in a hurry.
It was nice to be able to read magic-related books, but Diana was still young so there was no excuse to go to the library.
“I should talk to Viscount Bardot, he has always been interested in herbs, so this might be helpful in his research.”
At that time, he heard the Duke's voice holding Diana's hand and walking slowly.
Viscount Bardot was the personal physician to the Duchy of Elade.
When I turned my head in surprise at the unexpected words, the Duchess, who was looking at me with rather sad eyes, patted me on the head and said:
“I see it might be a really valuable herb, our Leia is really lucky to have discovered something like this.”
“Huh?”
When Diana tilted her head, the Duke responded with an indifferent expression.
“It means a valuable person who brings good luck or happiness.”
“Leah is beautiful and kind, so it's definitely a blessing.”
After hearing what the Duchess said, Diana raised her hand and said.
“That's right! Noona is Princess Heihi!”
I awkwardly hugged Diana as she ran towards me and clung to my waist.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed when the tips of my ears burned.
In particular, even though they were a child's words, the Duke's words that he would show to the legislator without a doubt made me feel confident and it was exhausting.
Suddenly, something happened a few days ago.
〈You confirmed that Tice trusted you regarding Diana's escort, but how did you know about the Pyrrhon Mine?〉
〈Okay, this one. …I heard it by chance, I often went to the training center to see Jack.〉
The Duke looked at me blankly for a moment, then nodded and asked me to leave.
Ever since I discovered the principal's crime, I had been worried that the Duke might suspect me, but he did not ask me in detail about the situation neither then nor this time.
Although I was very happy about this, I felt a little uncomfortable about it.
“By the way, I will be leaving the castle this afternoon to get a dress designed for the banquet.”
Then the Duchess clapped her hands and said.
The Duke narrowed his eyebrows and asked.
“Why don't you call me by my name?”
“I thought it would be frustrating for the kids to stay in the castle, so that's why our little princess went out to watch the festival with her big brother and ended up getting into trouble.”
Hearing the Duchess's bright answer, the Duke's face became more serious.
Duke Elad seemed very upset about us leaving the castle.
“Why are we having a banquet in the first place? You asked us to have one, so we are preparing, but...”
“Now, if we go up to the capital, we will have fewer encounters with vassals in the area, so we should do this.”
"Yes, it's the same as going up to the capital. Why do you even want to go? Are you going to be tired?"
As I quietly listened to the conversation between the two, I was surprised.
I knew they would soon invite their followers to the Duke's castle and hold a banquet, but going to the capital?
“Allen is already ten years old, and although Diana is still young, she should gradually adapt to life in the capital. In fact, there are only two dukes in the empire, so it is strange for our children to only spend time in the duchy instead of entering the social world.”
The Duchess continued to try hard to convince the Duke.
“I also want to see my eldest son who lives alone in the capital.”
"Lucio? Why is he alone? He should be fine in the academy dormitory."
Duchess Diana asked, still shaking her head in a harsh tone.
“Diana, do you miss your big brother too?”
"I'll see him! Will he come?"
". …no? !"
I was completely preoccupied with the sudden news that I was going to D.C., but Diana's unexpected question took my breath away.
“Leah, is this your first time in the capital? It’s a very big and crowded place.”
As I watched the Duchess explain with a bright face that she would probably be surprised when she saw it, I forced the corners of my mouth to turn up.
But I felt like my insides were burning.
DC.
When you go there...
'The Duchess will die.'
* * *
After returning from dinner and getting ready to go out, I got lost in thought.
I knew the Duchess died when Diana was young, but I didn't know the exact time.
‘If I had known this to be the case, I would have known more about the Duchy of Elad.’
Feeling frustrated and thinking nonsense, I looked up as much information as I could.
After her marriage, the Duchess of Elad remained in the estate and raised her children, then moved her residence to the capital and died less than a year later.
The exact reason is unknown, but since I heard she was bedridden, I thought the Duchess was a sick person at first.
That's why I was surprised by how genuine she was when I first met her in the Duchy with Diana.
'Is it because of stress?'
Although she couldn't say it out loud for fear of Duke Elad, many people assumed that the cause of her death was stress.
This was a natural inference, given the much talk from the time of the marriage, and her position as her only living on the estate.
She thought that going to the convent for the Duchess would be frightening and exhausting.
The Duke married despite opposition from his followers, who were as fierce as when the Duke inherited the title from his father.
The reason was simple.
Because her status was that of a fallen aristocrat and was closer to the common people.
The opposition was so strong that even vassals who were more loyal to the Duke than to anyone else were said to be dissatisfied with his not marrying a woman from a powerful family.
'Even if she is close to a commoner, she is definitely a noble, but if she is truly a commoner, it will be completely upside down.'
I shook my head.